Definition: An acronym for either the Arena Football League or the American Football League.

Also Known As: Arena Football League, American Football League

Examples:

The AFL (Arena Football League) is similar to the NFL, but is played indoors on a smaller field. The old American Football League merged with the NFL in 1970, creating an expanded NFL made up of two conferences, the AFC and NFC.

Definition: A defensive strategy in which a linebacker or defensive back vacates his normal responsibilities in order to pressure the quarterback. The object of a blitz is to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage or force the quarterback to hurry his pass.

Pronunciation: Blits

Also Known As: Red Dog

Examples:

When a defensive line is having trouble putting pressure on the quarterback, the defensive coordinator may decide to help them out by sending one or more linebackers or defensive backs on a blitz.

In college football, bowl games are played in leiu of a playoff system such as the NFL uses. There are numerous bowl games every year, and a national champion is crowned by matching up the No.1 and No.2 ranked teams in a championship bowl game.

Definition: A technique used by defensive backs to slow down a receiver's ability to get off the line of scrimmage. The defender bumps the receiver at the start of the play and attempts to throw him off his route by keeping contact over the first five yards.

Examples:

Cornerbacks often use bump-and-run coverage to slow a receiver coming off the line of scrimmage.

Definition: Assistants to the officials whose job is to mark where a team begins a series and how far they need to go to get a first down.

Examples:

The chain gang brings the chains onto the field for measurements on plays that end too close to the first down for the officials to make a determination by simply comparing the spot of the ball with the marker on the sideline. The chains are brought out to give an exact measurement from the spot where the series started.

Definition: A block by an offensive player who is usually spread out away from the main body of the formation and runs back in towards the ball at the snap, blocking an opponent back toward the original position of the ball at the snap.

Blocking below the waist or in the back in this situation is illegal.

Examples:

An illegal crackback block is a personal foul and is penalized 15 yards against the offending team.

Definition: A member of the defensive secondary. Defensive backs generally try to keep receivers from making catches. Safeties, cornerbacks, nickel backs, and dime backs are considered to be defensive backs.

Pronunciation: di fens' iv - bak

Examples:

A good group of defensive backs can shut down an opponents passing game.

Definition: Use of the hands to hold or push an offensive receiver or back on a passing play beyond the first five yards past the line of scrimmage.

Also Known As: Illegal Use of Hands

Examples:

Inside the five yard chuck zone, the defense may jam the receiver, but after that a penalty is called. Defensive holding results in a five-yard penalty on the offending team and an automatic first down.

Definition: A penalty called on a team for either letting the play clock expire before snapping the ball, having too many players on the field, or calling a time out after having already used all they were allotted by rule.

Examples:

A delay of game infraction results in a five-yard penalty against the offending team.

Definition: A disguised run that initially looks like a pass play. The offensive linemen fake like they are going to pass-block, the quarterback drops back like he is going to throw a pass, but instead turns and hands the ball to a running back.

Examples:

The draw is a great play to call when the defense is applying a heavy pass rush.

An offensive player who lines up on the very end of the line of scrimmage.

A defensive player who lines up on either end of the defensive line.

Examples:

The end on the right side of an offense (for teams with right-handed quarterbacks) is referred to as a tight end, as he lines up close to the offensive linemen. The end on the opposite side is spread out toward the sideline, and is called a wide receiver.

There are two levels of severity for face mask penalties. One results from incidental grabbing of a face mask where it is immediately released, and results in a five-yard penalty. A major face mask foul usually results from a player grabbing an opponent by the face mask and using it to pull the player down or twist his head around and results in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down.

Field position is a very important aspect of the game of football. Teams starting with poor field position have a tougher time scoring because they must move the ball farther to get into scoring position.

Definition: Similar to most other forms of football, but with typically six to nine players. Tackling is not permitted. Instead, a flag attatched to a belt and carried on each side of a player's hip must be pulled loose to constitute a tackle.

A designation given to a player by his team to keep him from leaving via free agency. According to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, the player must be paid the average salary of the top five players at his position.

A term used to refer to a superstar player who is invaluable to his team.

Examples:

A team can use the franchise tag to keep one of their more valuable free agents from leaving the team.

The Cincinnati Bengals made Carson Palmer the first overall pick in the NFL Draft because the felt he had the ability to be a franchise player.

Definition: The poles at the rear of each end zone through which teams score field goals and extra points.

Examples:

The goalpost consists of a post, crossbar, and two uprights. The post that holds the uprights is 10 feet tall and placed approximately 80 feet from the sidelines. The crossbar, which is 18 feet, 6 inches in length, sits atop the post. The uprights extend 30 feet above the crossbar.

Definition: An offensive play where the quarterback throws the ball up in the air without really targeting any particular receiver, hoping someone on his team catches it.

Examples:

A Hail Mary is generally used on the last play of the half or end of the game when a team is out of field-goal range and has just enough time for one play. The ball is usually lofted up toward one side of the end zone where several receivers try to catch it while a group of defenders try to knock it down or intercept it.

Definition: The return on money bet on a game, which is based on the likely outcome of the game as determined by an Oddsmaker.

Examples:

Every year, oddsmakers assign odds of each team winning the Super Bowl that season. If you bet on 2-1 odds and win, you will receive two dollars for every dollar you bet. The odds for a team to make it to the Super Bowl may vary from 2-to-1 to 100s-to-1 depending on how much of a chance the oddsmakers think that team has of winning. Odds are commonly set on many other football events as well.

Definition: A foul in which an offensive player keeps a defender from advancing by grasping him with his hands or arms. Offensive linemen are allowed to use their hands as long as they keep them to the inside of a defenders body, but if they get to the outside of the defender's body, it is a penalty.

Definition: A running play designed to go to the strong side and take advantage of the hole supplied by the tackle, the tight end, and the full back.

Examples:

When running off-tackle, a running back can take the ball either outside the tackle or around the tight end. The fullback's duty is to block the outside linebacker, giving the ball carrier room to run.

Definition: An attempt by the defensive players to get to the quarterback so they can tackle him before he can complete a pass.

Examples:

A pass rush can come in a number of different forms. Teams often pass rush just three or four down linemen, or they can also use one or more linebackers or defensive backs to add a blitz to their pass rush.

Definition: A kick made while the ball is held in place on the ground by either another player or a tee.

Examples:

On field goals, a placekick is held in position by another player called the holder. On kickoffs, the ball is usually held by a tee unless the wind is strong enough to blow it over. In that case, another player holds it in place for the kick.

Definition: A pass play where the quarterback fakes a handoff to a running back while he's dropping back to pass.

Examples:

On a play-action pass, the quarterback hopes to fake the defenders into thinking the offense is going to run the ball. By doing so, he accomplish two things. He slows down the pass rush of the defense and he forces the defensive backs to make a decision between covering their assigned receiver or coming up to help stop the run.

A player often referred to as a playmaker includes players that consistently make long gains or get into the end zone on offense. On defense, a playmaker is a player that consistently creates turnovers, sacks the quarterback, or just generally makes a lot of stops behind or near the line of scrimmage.

Definition: A low, line drive kickoff that often bounces around before it is fielded by the kick returner.

Also Known As: squib kick

Examples:

A pooch kick is often used against a team with a dangerous kick returner or as time is running out in the game or half. A pooch kick is less likely to be returned for a touchdown and uses more time off the clock than a normal kickoff.

When a team has control of the ball, the are considered to be in possession of it.

When a player maintains control of the ball while touching both feet, or any other part of his body other than his hands, to the ground.

Examples:

1. A team's possession begins when they take over on offense and ends when they give up the ball either by turnover, punt, or scoring. 2. On a pass play, a player must have possession of the ball before going out of bounds to complete the pass.

Definition: A running play in which two or more offensive linemen pull out of their stances and run toward the outside of the line of scrimmage, leading the running back who receives a handoff or pitch from the quarterback.

Also Known As: sweep

Examples:

To run a successful power sweep, a team must have guards with agility and the speed to get outside the line.

Definition: When a player leaves one area of the field, generally moving back and then over, to block in an area other than his normal position.

Examples:

A sweep is a good example of a play that uses pulling blockers. Generally, the two guards pull out of their normal blocking zones and run to a predetermined side of the field to block for the running back.

Definition: A move the quarterback uses to deceive the defense by moving his arm in a throwing motion in the direction of a receiver, but holding onto the ball and drawing it back to throw in another direction or area of the field.

Examples:

A quarterback might use a pump fake toward a receiver that is in a short pattern over the middle to draw the free safety up before throwing a deep pass to a wide receiver racing down one of the sidelines.

Definition: A defensive strategy in which a linebacker or defensive back vacates his normal responsibilities in order to pressure the quarterback. The object of a red dog is to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage or force the quarterback to hurry his pass.

Also Known As: blitz

Examples:

When a defensive line is having trouble putting pressure on the quarterback, the defensive coordinator may decide to help them out by sending one or more linebackers or defensive backs on a red dog.

Definition: A play in which the running back receives a handoff from the quarterback and then runs laterally behind the line of scrimmage before handing off to a receiver running in the opposite direction.

Examples:

A reverse is often used against a defense that has a tendancy to overpursue.

Definition: A forward pass in which the defensive linemen are allowed to get through the offensive line while two offensive linemen run wide to a specific side of the field and then turn and block upfield for a running back who takes a short pass from the quarterback.

Examples:

A screen pass can be very effective against aggressive defenses who rush the quarterback.

Definition: A low, line drive kickoff that often bounces around before it is fielded by the kick returner.

Also Known As: pooch kick

Examples:

A squib kick is often used against a team with a dangerous kick returner or as time is running out in the game or half. A squib kick is less likely to be returned for a touchdown and uses more time off the clock than a normal kickoff.

Definition: A running play in which two or more offensive linemen pull out of their stances and running toward the outside of the line of scrimmage, leading the running back who receives a handoff or pitch from the quarterback.

Examples:

On sweeps, many teams like to run a fake in the other direction first to slow down the pursuit.

Definition: A scoring play, immediately after a touchdown, in which a team can add two bonus points by running or passing the ball into the end zone on one play starting from the opponent's two-yard line.

Examples:

In college football, the two-point conversion begins on an opponent's three-yard line.